Pakistan picks tree-lined pathway towards safe environment

In the world facing looming threat of climate change, Pakistan has chosen the green pathway of protecting and preserving the environment to secure future for coming generations.

A country-wide project ‘Aik bashar, Do shajar’ – meaning one person to plant two trees – has been launched on August 18th under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who wants his nation to become more sensitive and friendly towards the environment.

On first day, the Islamabad Capital Territory administration planted 1,000 saplings at the capital’s major east-west Kashmir Highway.

The Clean & Green Islamabad initiative includes plantation of one million plants during current monsoon season on self- help basis by involving different sections of society. A survey has revealed the survival rate of the planted trees as 70 per cent.

According to Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, the government has set a target to plant 10 billion trees in five years under Plant for Pakistan programme.

The minister, who planted a sapling at Pakistan Television Headquarters in Islamabad, said the plantation campaign is the effort of Prime Minister Imran Khan to make Pakistan clean and green with secure future for the coming generations.

She urged people to plant maximum number of trees in their homes, neighbourhoods and cities and make the campaign successful.

She said centres had been set up across the country to provide plants to people.

In Multan, the country’s big city in populous Punjab province, around 460,000 saplings will be planted by October 31. Also, 20,00 saplings have been planted along bank of Naubahar canal on first day of the campaign.

In Rawalpindi, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) will plant over 29,300 saplings of different species under monsoon plantation drive.

The Board has set a target of planting 11,120 plants of different species besides 16,900 fruit plant saplings which would be planted on Peshawar Road, Mall Road, Saddar, Nisar Park, Seham School, Westridge Graveyard, Kashmir Road, Parade Road and in other cantt areas.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department with assistance of other stakeholders on first day of drive planted record 5 million saplings of different species across the province under Plant for Pakistan to offset the growing effects of climate change and global warming.

The Spokesman of KP Forest Department told APP on Sunday that under Plant for Pakistan Afforestation Campaign, around 5 million saplings were planted across the province in one day (August 18) aimed at to support the national endeavors towards promotion of forests resources in the country.

In another environment-friendly move, the government has banned the use of plastic bags in the capital. The step has also received global acknowledgment and given wide coverage in international media.

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